214 ^"^ Ottawa Naturalist. j March 



made to some of these in The Ottawa Naturalist, and fuller 

 particulars regarding them will be given in the Annual Report ot 

 the Council While at these excursions there is not very much 

 new work done, it is felt that their principal value is in the assist- 

 ance which the leaders of the Club are able to give at these times 

 to those who are beginning the study of Natural Science and to 

 the delightful outing which they afford to those who, perhaps, 

 may be induced by seeing the enthusiasm of others, and the many 

 attractions which the study of Natural History affords, to investi- 

 gate for themselves, and thus develop a love for such work. 



The Botanical Branch of the Club, which last winter held so 

 many successful meetings at the homes of the members, has be- 

 gun work this winter with much enthusiasm, and those who 

 attend these meetings feel that in no way can Natural History be 

 studied so well as among a small band of enthusiasts, each with 

 his own views on certain questions and eager to give expression 

 to them. The Entomological Branch will shortly resume its 

 meetings also, and it is hoped that the Ornithologists will soon 

 organize. 



There has probably never been a more popular, and at the 

 same time a more valuable, volume of The Ottawa Naturalist 

 than that of the current year. There has been a number ot bright 

 articles which have attracted the attention of members who do not 

 always read The Naturalist carefully. The series of Nature 

 Study articles continues to be of a very high order, and it is hoped 

 that more members of the Club will take advantage of the pages 

 devoted to Nature Study to give expression to their enthusiasm. 

 There must be many members of the Club who are just bubbling 

 over with good things, if they would only present them. The 

 Editor of The Naturalist informs me that he finds it very diffi- 

 cult to get material for The Naturalist from local members, and 

 if outsiders did not appreciate the advantages of publishing articles 

 in The Naturalist he would be very short of material. Let us 

 try and do better in the future. All lovers of Nature should be 

 able to contribute something from personal observation that would 

 be interesting and useful to others. 



We invite you to study the Programme of Soirees for this 

 winter. A change has been made this year in the charncterof the 



